Straddle-legged gondola car unloader

ABSTRACT

This invention is a straddle-legged gondola car unloader that is a temporarily converted shovel or ladder-type ditcher, or a railway wheeled ditcher, wherein the upper portion is detached from its crawler or wheelbase and then the wheels or crawlers are spread apart to a distance greater than the width of a gondola car, and then stanchions and a platform are provided on the base at a height greater than that of the gondola car, also a ramp is temporarily connected to the elevated platform enabling the upper portion to climb up on the platform and be again operatively connected to the crawlers or rail wheels. When rail wheels are on the base, a track is provided on each side of the gondola car location. This structure enables a gondola car unloader to be temporarily set up at any desired location for as short or long as desired, then it may be easily removed, and reconverted to its original purpose.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jay S. Eaton P.O. Box 15195, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33406 [21] Appl. No. 804,803 [22] Filed Mar. 6, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, I971 [54] STRADDLE-LEGGED GQNDOLA CAR UNLOADER 16 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 214/44, ISO/9.2, 2l4/85 [51] Int. Cl 865g 67/24 [50] Field of Search 214/44, 44 (A), 57, 85; 180/92 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,698,172 l/l929 Ronk (214/85)UX 2,272,693 2/1942 De Jute 2 l4/44(A) Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Gustave Miller ABSTRACT: This invention is a straddle-legged gondola car unloader that is a temporarily converted shovel or ladder-type ditcher, or a railway wheeled ditcher, wherein the upper portion is detached from its crawler or wheelbase and then the wheels or crawlers are spread apart to a distance greater than the width of a gondola car, and then stanchions and a platfon'n are provided on the base at a height greater than that of the gondola car, also a ramp is temporarily connected to the elevated platform enabling the upper portion to climb up on the platform and be again operatively connected to the crawlers or rail wheels. When rail wheels are on the base, a track is provided on each side of the gondola car location. This structure enables a gondola car unloader to be temporarily set up at any desired location for as short or long as desired, then it may be easily removed, and reconverted to its original purpose.

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SHEET 7 UF 8 INVENTOR Jay .5 Eafm ATTORNEY STRADDLE-LEGGEI) GONDOLA CAR UNLOADIER OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a temporary or permanent straddle-legged unloader for a gondola freight car by using a conventional shovel, crane, or ladder-type ditcher crawler, as the principal feature thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a temporary straddle-legged gondola unloader at comparatively small cost in any location, particularly locations where it is not economical to provide a conventional permanent straddle-legged unloader.

A stillfurther object of this invention is to provide a kit for temporarily converting a conventional clam bucket or laddertype ditcher or crawler into a straddle-legged unloader at any suitable location.

Yet a further object of this invention is to make it possible to readily provide a straddle-legged unloader at small additional expense so long as a ditcher of the shovel or ladder-type or crane is already available, by adding a comparatively inexpensive kit thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a semipermanent or permanent straddle-legged gondola unloader or carrier wherein a straddle-legged rail wheeled elevated platform is provided along with a ramp for any suitable ditcher, a clam bucket or ladder ditcher type, or crane, any of which may be crawler mounted or wheel mounted, so that such ditcher'on crane may climb up onto the platfonn for unloading or carrying use, and may descend therefrom for its normal use at any time, thus enabling one power ditcher or crane vehicle to readily convert from either use to the other use.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE This invention is a device for quickly unloading gondola freight cars. It consists of a ditcher crawler, either of the shovel or crane-type, or a multiple ladder-type. In one form, the crawler feet are detached from the subframe cab, after temporarily placing beams under the subframe, then mounting a platform on upright stanchions on the crawlers or railway wheels connecting the temporary beams by ramp beams to the parallel frame members of the platform, the platform being higher and wider than the top of the gondola car, and moving the subframe up the ramp to the platform by its own power. The beams and platfonn have a line of holes to cooperate with the cog wheels or. sprockets that otherwise power the crawlers. Then a subframe supporting wheel is added at each of the four comers thereof to carry it on the beams and platform. Thereafter, the subframe is blocked in place on the platform, and power transmission is provided from a power takeoff on the subframe as by a chain, to the crawlers to thus provide a straddle-legged unloader or carrier, particularly useful in a temporary location. For a semipermanent location, a pair of spaced-apart rail tracks and rail wheel trucks are provided, carrying 'an'elevated platform to which wide ramps are temporarily attached so that the crawler may climb on its own power to the platform, and then a power transmission is connected between the crawler motor and the rail wheels.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES With the above and related objectsin view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as willbe more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation of one form of the straddle-legged I unloader in operative position over a gondola freight car.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2, but with ditcher now in the form of the straddle-legged unloader, and the ramp about to be removed.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the unloader, on line 5-5 5 ofFIG. ll.

FIG. 6 is a view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5, the ramps still being in place.

FIG. 7 is a more greatly enlarged side view of the unloader platform and subframe structure mounted thereon.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail of the inside angle meeting ends of the horizontal and ramp beams and the sprocket hole bridge at the angle.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a section through the angle bridge and ramp beam, on line 10-10 of FIG. 9. 7

FIG. 11 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a short boom clamshell bucket used with the straddle unloader.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the boom and bucket of FIG; 1 l.

FIG. 13 is a front fragmentary view of a form of multiple ladder-type ditcher as in position over a gondola car.

FIG. 14 is asectional view on line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a form wherein the platform is mounted on railroad wheels.

FIG. 16 is a view on line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION There is shown at 10 the straddle-legged unloader of this hi vention in operative position for use in unloading a gondolarailway car 12 which has been brought into unloading position on its usual wheels 14 on rails 16. While straddle-legged unloaders in permanent locations, such as at wharfs, warehouses, factories, etc. are well known, this straddle-legged unloader. 10 may be temporarily set up anywhere in a comparatively short time, and when no longer needed at the temporary. loca: tion, may be easily taken down again for removal elsewhere, or for reconversion to its original purpose of a ditcher.

This unloader 10 includes all the parts of a ditcher, with the wheel mechanisms or crawlers l8 detached from the subframe 20 of the cab 22, the cogwheels 24 of the subframe 20 now resting on a framework of parallel frame members 25 of an elevated platform 26 supported on upright stanchions 28, the stanchions 28 in turn being supported on the wheel mechanisms or crawlers 18, the crawlers 18 having been first spaced apart to a width greater than that of a gondola car 12, and the stanchions 28 being tall enough to support the platform 26 at a height above that of a standard railway freight car, so that the unloader v10 may travel over a freighttrain to the location of the gondola car or cars therein to unload it into road vehicles such as trucks. While the cogwheels 24 act in positioning the subframe 20 on the platform 26, the subframe- 20 is supported on four wheels 30, one for each of the four comers, which are joumaled in forks 32 welded, or otherwise secured to the comers of the subframe 20 to carry the weight thereof both while on the platform 26 and while climbing to the platform 26 on ramps 34 which have been temporarily bolted at 38 and 40 in position from one end of the platform 26 to a pair of beams 36 on which the ditcher is placed so that the crawlers 18 may be detached and the support forks 32 and, wheels 30 may be attached. A curved ramp track42 is bolted at 44 to each of the ramps 34 to overlie one side of the end of' the beams 36, as shown in FIG. 8. Aligned cogwheel cogreceiving holes 46 are provided in the beams 36, the curved ramp track 42, the ramps 34 and the parallel frame members 25 of platform 26 so that, after the crawlers 18 have been disconnected and the platform 26 has been mounted on the cogwheels 2a to pull the cab 22 and subframe 26 up the ramps. 34 over the inside angle of the ramp 34 to the beams 36, and

wheels 4% on the front end of the platform 26 support the bottom 50 of the subframe 20 so that it may ride thereon over the outside angle between the ramps 34 and the platform 26. The regular boom lift cable 52 is detached from the eye 54 on the end of the boom arm 56 and instead the cable 52 is passed over a pulley 58 mounted at the front of the cab 22 and attached to an eye 60 on the front of the platform 26 to act as a safety cable while the subframe 20 is climbing or descending the ramps 34, the safety cable being kept taut by the drum assembly 62 during such operations without, however, supplying either climbing or braking power, the cable 52 extending under the subframe 20 until the subframe 20 is on the platform 26. The clamshell bucket 64, conventionally supported on the end of boom arm 56, is controlled by its operating cable 66 in conventional manner, the boom arm 56 being adjustably mounted in its boom sleeve 68 and positioned by the boom pin 70. Reinforcing side brace boom beams 72 are provided, as seen in FIG. 11, to prevent side sway. Permanent abutment stops 74 welded on platform 26 in the path of the rear subframe supporting wheels 30 prevent the subframe 20 from going over the end of the platform 26, and similar stops 76 are temporarily secured on the platform 26, in any suitable manner in the front of the other pair of wheels 30 to lock the subframe 20 on the platform 26.

The series of cog holes 46 terminate in a few slots 78 for permitting the cogwheels 24 to be removed outwardly, when the subframe 20 is in operating position on the platform 26 and shafts 80 joumaled through bearings 82 on platform 26 are substituted, gears 84 on the end of shaft 80 transmit power by chains 86 to the crawlers 18 when it is desired to move the unloader along the length of the gondola car during unloading, or the length of the freight train to position the unloader 10 from one gondola car 12 to another car as needed. Once in position, the ditcher mechanism is operated in the conventional manner to control the clamshell bucket to dip into the gondola car 12 and unload it into a truck vehicle conveniently positioned beside the car 12, the bucket 64 being moved sideways in the car as needed and advanced along the car by powering the crawlers 18 as needed.

OPERATION OF CRAWLER CLAMSHELL UNLOADER In operation, the ditcher is positioned over the beams 36, on temporary jacks as needed, and the wheel forks 32 are secured on the subframe 20, if not already in position from being previously used as an unloader, and the crawlers 18 are detached, and repositioned for having the stanchions 28 and platform 26 mounted thereon. Next, with the assembled crawlers 18 and platform 26 in proper position, the beams 34 are bolted on at 38 and 40, and curved cogwheel track 42 is bolted on at 44. One or more temporary reinforcing stanchions 88, of appropriate height, is secured on the bottom of each ramp 34 as needed. Bumper shields 90 on stanchions 88 prevent snagging the sides of the cars 12. The boom cable 52 is then detached from its boom eye 54, passed under the subframe 20 and brought up and attached to safety anchor eye 60, on the front of the platform 26. Then with the drum assembly 62 appropriately operated to keep it taut during the climbing operation, the crawler cogwheels 24, which are positioned in the holes 46 when the temporary jacks have been removed to place the weight of the subframe 20 on the wheels 30 on beams 36, are then operated to cause the subframe 20 to climb to the platform 26. The curved track 42 enables the cogwheels 24 to remain in mesh with the cog holes 46 as the wheels 30 pass from the beams 36 to the ramps 34. Then, at the top of the ramps 34, as the first pair of wheels 30 have just left the upper end of the ramps 34, the bottom 50 of subframe 20 rides on the platform wheels 48 until the subframe 20 is high enough for it to tilt back toward horizontal position, and subframe 20 then rides on the first pair of wheels 30 and cogwheels 24 until the first pair of wheels 30 abut stops 74 as the second pair ofwheels 30 just roll onto the platform 26. The temporary stops 76 for the second pair of wheels 30 are then positioned, locking the subframe 20 and cab 22 in unloader position. Next, the shafts are substituted for the cogwheels 24, and the chain 86 is positioned on the shaft gears 84 to the crawlers 18. The cable 52 is disconnected from safety eye 60 and reconnected to boom arm eye 54, the ramps 34 stanchions 88 and beams 36 are disconnected and removed as necessary, and the operating mechanism in cab 22 is caused to operate the drum assembly 62 and other mechanisms in a conventional manner to operate the bucket 64 for unloading the gondola car 12, moving along the car 12 or along the train of cars 12 as needed. When no longer needed as an unloader to the conventional ditcher assembly, leaving the wheel forks 32 in position, if possible, for future use.

DETAILS OF LADDER-TYPE DITCHER UNLOADER In FIGS. 13 and 14, a multiple ladder-type type citcher is provided on the cab 22 and subframe 20 instead of the conventional clamshell bucket 64 on the boom arm 56. The ditcher frame 102 is pivoted at 90 to the cab 22 in the same manner that the boom sleeve 68 is pivoted thereto. Frame tongues 104, braced thereto at 106, are pivotally controlled at 108 by connecting rods 110 to the power mechanism (not shown) in the cab 22 for raising or lowering the ladder-type ditcher 100 into the gondola car 12. The frame 102 includes a pair of triangular bucket frames 112, spaced apart to fit ditcher a gondola car 12, as seen in FIG. 13, and journaled between the triangular bucket frames 112 are three bucket shafts 114. Each bucket shaft 114 has a plurality of pairs of spaced apart sprocket gears 116 and sprocket chains 118. Rigidly secured between each pair of chains 118 are a plurality of scoops 120 which, spill their load onto an endless conveyor belt 122 tranversing, in either direction, beyond the sides of the triangular frames 112 so as to load into trucks on one side or the other of the gondola car 12. The conveyor belt 122 travels on rollers 124, between longitudinals 126 secured by arms 128 to ditcher frame 102. One belt roller 124 is reversibly powered by power shaft train 130 from a reversing gear box 132 and motor shaft 134 from a suitable motor 136 mounted on the ditcher frame 102. A sprocket chain 138 on motor shaft 134 operates a power shaft 140 which in turn is connected by sprocket chains 142 to the two upper bucket shafts 114.

OPERATION OF MULTIPLE LADDER-TY PE UNLOADER In operation, this multiple ladder-type unloader 100 is placed on the platform 26 in the same manner as to clamshell bucket unloader 10. The connecting rod 110 is actuated to control the angle of the ladder-type unloader 100 according to the load in the car 12. The reversing gearbox 102 is set according to the side on which the load-receiving trucks may approach the gondola car 12, the motor 136 is then operated to power the buckets 120 and conveyor belts 128, while the connecting rod 110 is actuated when needed to adjust the angle. Obviously, with the multiple series of scoops, five sets of which are shown, a gondola car 12 may be unloaded very quickly, the unloader 100 traveling from one end of the car 12 to the other as the unloading proceeds. A scoop shield 144 having an inclined bottom edge 146 is provided to protect the descending scoops, 120 so that they will load only at the bottom of their travel rather than attempt to dig down from a top or intermediate position.

DETAILS OF RAILWAY WHEEL TY PE When a semipermanent type of unloaded may be desirable, the unloader may be mounted on railway wheels operating on suitably placed rails 162. The sprocket power chain 86 is connected to a sprocket 164 on one of the wheels 160 for moving the unloader as desired. This type would be preferable when a longer use of the unloader is expected, sufficient to justify the placement of the rails 162 rather than the use of the ground surface for the crawlers 18. The construction and operation of either the clamshell bucket-type or multiple ladder-type of unloader is the same as above-described, whether on crawlers 18 or railway wheels 162.

ABSTRACT OF DRAWINGS In the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts, and for the purposes of explication, set forth below are the numbered parts of the improved straddle-Legged Gondola Car Unloader:

straddle-legged unloader 12 gondola railway car 14 gondola car wheels 16 rails 18 wheel mechanisms or crawlers 20 subframe of cab 22 24 cogwheels of 20 25 platform parallel frame members 26 elevated platform 28 stanchions 30 shells in 32 32 forks at comers of 20 34 ramps 36 temporary beams 38 bolts at 34 to 26 40 bolts at 34 to 36 42 curved ramp track 44 bolt at 34 to 42 46 cogwheel cog-receiving holes 48 subframe riding wheels at front end of 26 50 bottom of 26 riding on 48 52 safety (boom lift) cable 54 cable anchor on boom arm 56 56 boom arm 58 safety cable pulley 60 cable anchor eye on 26 62 conventional drum assembly 64 clamshell bucket 66 clam bucket operating cable 68 boom sleeve 1 70 boom positioning pin through 68 and 56 72 side brace boom beams v 74 permanent abutment stops 76 temporary stops 78 cog removing slots 80 crawler power shafts 82 bearings shafts 80 84 gear on end of shaft 80 86 chain on 84 to 18 88 temporary stanchions for ramps 34 90 pivot connection of 68 or 102 to 22.

92 gondola car protecting bumper on stanchions 28 multiple ladder-type ditcher- 102 ladder-type ditcher frame 104 frame tongues 106 braces for 104 108 pivot, 110 to 104 110 connecting rods 112 triangular bucket frames 114 three bucket shafts 116 sprocket gears on 114 1211 scoops 122 endless conveyor belt 124 belt rollers 126 roller longitudinals 128 arms from 126 to 102 131) power shaft train to one roller 124 from gear shift box 132 132 reversing gearshift box 7 134 power shaft from motor 136 to 132 136 motor 138 power sprocket chain 134 to 140 140 power shaft 142 sprocket power chains 140 to 114 144 scoop shield 146 inclined bottom edge of 144 railway wheels 162 rails 164 railway wheel sprocket Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

lclaim:

1. In combination with a ditcher having a pair of spaced apart wheel mechanisms, the subframeof the ditcher having powered sprockets cooperating with said wheel mechanism, said wheel mechanisms being detachable from the subframe of the ditcher assembly; the improvement of an unloader comprising a pair of upright stanchions adapted to be detachably but rigidly secured to each of said pair of said wheel mechanisms adjacent each end thereof when said wheel mechanisms are removed from said ditcher subframe; said stanchions, when mounted on said wheel mechanisms, extending to a height greater than'the height of a gondola car over which the unloader is to be used, a rectangular framework rigidly securing the top ends of said stanchions together, said framework including frame members extending parallel to and over said wheel mechanisms, said parallel frame membershaving sprocket teeth receiving recesses therein extending to at least the midportions thereof for cooperation with said powered sprockets for moving said subframe on said framework, said parallel frame members providing a support platform for said subframe of said ditcher, assembly on said framework and thus on said wheel mechanisms in rigid relation thereto, power transmission means operatively connecting said wheel mechanisms to the power means in said subframe thus providing a mobile straddle-legged gondola car unloader.

2. The unloader of claim 1, said wheel mechanisms being crawlers.

3. The unloader of claim 1, said wheel mechanisms being v railway wheels for operation on rails.

4. The combination of claim 1, said ditcher being a boom operated clamshell bucket.

5. The combination of claim 1, said ditcher being a laddertype ditcher having endless chain carried scoops and scoop material receiving transverse endless conveyor belt cooperating therewith.

6. The combination of claim 5, there being a multiplicity of side-by-side endless chain carried scoops discharging onto said one transverse endless conveyor belt.

7. The combination of claim 6, and a common power supply for said belt conveyor and said endless chain scoop carriers.

8. The combination of claim 6, and means for reversing the travel of said endless conveyor belt.

9. In combination with a crawler ditcher having a pair of parallel crawlers detachable from the subframe of the ditcher, said subframe having a powered (sprocket wheel) cogwheel; the improvement comprising an upright stanchion adapted to be secured to each crawler at each end thereof when each said crawler is detached from said subframe, frame members rigidly connecting the upper ends of said stanchions and providing a rectangular platform, said frame members parallel Y to said crawlers having cogwheel cog-cooperating recesses therein for cooperating with said powered cogwheel, and subframe supporting wheels mounted at four comers of the underbody of said subframe in cooperating supporting position mechanisms, said transmission means being connectable to a power supply of the ditcher.

i6. The device of claim 15, and power transmission means mounted on said platform and connected to said wheel mechanism, said transmission means being connectable to a power supply of the ditcher. 

1. In combination with a ditcher having a pair of spaced apart wheel mechanisms, the subframe of the ditcher having powered sprockets cooperating with said wheel mechanism, said wheel mechanisms being detachable from the subframe of the ditcher assembly; the improvement of an unloader comprising a pair of upright stanchions adapted to be detachably but rigidly secured to each of said pair of said wheel mechanisms adjacent each end thereof when said wheel mechanisms are removed from said ditcher subframe, said stanchions, when mounted on said wheel mechanisms, extending to a height greater than the height of a gondola car over which the unloader is to be used, a rectangular framework rigidly securing the top ends of said stanchions together, said framework including frame members extending parallel to and over said wheel mechanisms, said parallel frame members having sprocket teeth receiving recesses therein extending to at least the midportions thereof for cooperation with said powered sprockets for moving said subframe on said framework, said parallel frame members providing a support platform for said subframe of said ditcher assembly on said framework and thus on said wheel mechanisms in rigid relation thereto, power transmission means operatively connecting said wheel mechanisms to the power means in said subframe thus providing a mobile straddle-legged gondola car unloader.
 2. The unloader of claim 1, said wheel mechanisms being crawlers.
 3. The unloader of claim 1, said wheel mechanisms being railway wheels for operation on rails.
 4. The combination of claim 1, said ditcher being a boom operated clamshell bucket.
 5. The combination of claim 1, said ditcher being a ladder-type ditcher having endless chain carried scoops and scoop material receiving transverse endless conveyor belt cooperating therewith.
 6. The combination of claim 5, there being a multiplicity of side-by-side endless chain carried scoops discharging onto said one transverse endless conveyor belt.
 7. The combination of claim 6, and a common power supply for said belt conveyor and said endless chain scoop carriers.
 8. The combination of claim 6, and means for reversing the travel of said endless conveyor belt.
 9. In combination with a crawler ditcher having a pair of parallel crawlers detachable from the subframe of the ditcher, said subframe having a powered (sprocket wheel) cogwheel; the improvement comprising an upright stanchion adapted to be secured to each crawler at each end thereof when each said crawler is detached from said subframe, frame members rigidly connecting the upper ends of said stanchions and providing a rectangular platform, said frame members parallel to said crawlers having cogwheel cog-cooperating recesses therein for cooperating with said powered cogwheel, and subframe supporting wheels mounted at four corners of the underbody of said subframe in cooperating supporting position with said cog-cooperating frame members.
 10. The combination of claim 9, and subframe positioning stop means mounted on said platform.
 11. The combination of claim 9, and cog-cooperating attachable and detachable ramp means secured to one common end of each of said cog-cooperating frame members.
 12. The combination of claim 10, and parallel cog-cooperating beam members extending from the lower end of said ramp means.
 13. The combination of claim 12, and cog-cooperating curved bridge means connecting said first mentioned beam means to said ramp means across their connecting angle.
 14. The device of claim 1, and ramp means temporarily attachable thereto enabling the ditcher to climb up to or descend from said ditcher supporting platform.
 15. The device of claim 1, and power transmission means mounted on said platform and connected to said wheel mechanisms, said transmission means being connectable to a power supply of the ditcher.
 16. The device of claim 15, and power transmission means mounted on said platform and connected to said wheel mechanism, said transmission means being connectable to a power supply of the ditcher. 